Secondary School Texts:

JUNIOR SECONDARY

An Annotated List

Our thanks to those 28 English Departments in the Auckland, Waikato and Bay of Plenty regions who took time to share their teaching enthusiasms and endorsements. The comments have been pretty much un-edited. Additions and emendations to this list are most welcome. Simply send them to Terry Locke, School of Education, University of Waikato, Private Bag 3105, Hamilton.

Texts have been loosely categorised according to junior or senior secondary. Teachers are seldom unanimous in allocating a year level to a text. What follows is a kind of best fit.

Novels (Junior)

• Across the Barricades, by Joan Lingard Great with form 4 students, drama also good
• Alex, by Tessa Duder (year 10)
• A Patch of Blue, by Elizabeth Kata (year 11)
• A River Ran Out of Eden, by James V Marshall. Modern parallel of the Garden of Eden story. Useful for a lot of teaching ideas and stylistic aspects
• Beowulf: Dragonslayer, by Rosemary Sutcliff Central text for form 3 study of Old English/ Anglo Saxon
• The Blue Lawn, by William Taylor Story of teenage boys' attraction for each other.
• The Boy Who Was Afraid, by Armstrong Sperry. Vivid descriptive writing. Good for a thematic unit and for exploring language and poetic writing. Useful survival story in the Pacific Islands.
• Bridge to Wiseman's Cove, by James Moloney
• The Cay, by Theodore Taylor Dealing with prejudice. Theme of racism challenged student's preconcieved ideas and stereotypes
• The Champion, by Maurice Gee Good NZ text, good to deal with the issue of racism in a 'removed' context. Looks back at NZ life, good adventure yarn
• Dead Birds Singing, by Marc Talbet. Good for form 4/5, relationships
• Dear Nobody, by Berlie Doherty. Useful especially for a study of letters and diaries, takes the form of letters written by a teenager to her unborn child.
• Driving Force, by Alan Bunn NZ outdoors, coast-to-coast race, battling leukaemia, forms 4 - 5
• Goodnight Mister Tom, by M Margorian. Very moving story. Beautifully written, again excellent for Close Reading
• The Guilty Party, by Joan Linguard
• Fat, Four-eyed and Useless, by David Hill. Humourous journal
• The Fat Man, by Maurice Gee
• Flight of the Albatross, by Deborah Savage. Kids enjoy it
• Flour Babies, by Ann Fine
• Flowers for Algernon, by Daniel Keyes
• Frog, by Gary Paulsen
• Grit, by T Roxborough
• Goodnight Mister Tom, by M Margorian Very moving story. Beautifully written, again excellent for Close Reading
• The Guilty Party, by Joan Linguard
• Hatchet, by Gary Poulson. Great adventure stuff for forms 3-4, especially boys, strong character themes, short and powerful, an easy read with depth. Exciting survival story, well liked by form 3
• Hatchet in Winter, by Gary Paulsen.ditto 'Hatchet'.
• The Hobbit, by J R Tolkien form 3
• Home Run, by Paula Boock. Form 3. Works well with bilingual class, also form 4 students who struggle with reading, whole class enjoyment
• The Hostage, by Theodore Taylor. Links with 'Free Willy'. Readable and relevant to conservation issues
• I Am David, by Anne Holm. Ties in with a thematic study of war
• I Heard the Owl Call My Name, by Margaret Craven.
• The Juniper Game, by Sherryl Jordan. Great with a slow form 4
• The Keeper, by B Faville NZ author. Narrative structure, descriptive style, subtle issues /parable style, relevant to students.
• Kick Back, by David Hill NZ author, narrative structure, thematically strong, lends itself to good interpersonal speaking group situations
• King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table, by Roger Green (Puffin Classic) used with a Mediaeval unit -- several other title used with mixed ability
• Kiss the Dust, by Elizabeth Laird. Story theme of refugees, main character, extension work on processing information.
• Letters From the Inside, by John Marsden. Excellent author, thought- provoking, strong female characters
• Letters to Lesley, by Janice Marnott (Year 9)
• The Machine Gunners, by Robert Westall. Hard dialect but a good story
• Magic Magee, by Jerry Spinelli
• Mercury Beach, by Tessa Duder (form 4)
• Montana 1948, by Larry Watson. 5th form girls
• Mrs Frisby and the Rats of Nimm, by R O'Brien. Can be read for different levels of meaning, students enjoy it, lends itself to numerous activities
• Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck. Upper 4th's and 5th's
• The Outsiders, by S E Hinton Enjoyed by both 4ths and 5ths. Students relate well to the theme of growing up on the wrong side of the tracks, characterisation realistic, imagery effective Slightly dated but involves 'gang' theme, popular at form 4. Can relate it to NZ society, students really enjoy this, "keeps the worst class quiet!"
• Out Walked Mel, by Paula Boock. Lower secondary, also good for lower ability, a good storyline that they can relate to.
• Playing Beatie Bow by Ruth Park. Excellent as a novel for lower secondary.
• Possum Perkins, by W Taylor. Children enjoy being treated as emerging adults. Girls enjoy the strong character of Rosie who dares to be different. Explores the issues of incest, alcoholism and friendship
• The Power of One, by Bryce Courtney. Humourous, well written story of growing up in South Africa. Students like it, useful to compare with the film.
• Rocco, by Sherryl Jordan. Students enjoy this novel. Excellent to use for Close Reading activites. (Year 9)
• Runaway, by T Roxborough
• See Ya Simon, by David Hill. NZ author. Poignant but humourous, an insight for students who have wheelchair-bound fellow students. Reasonably easy for juniors to read, amusing and gives insight into the tragedy of muscular dystrophy
• The Silent One, by Joy Cowley (Form 3)
• The Silver Sword, by Ian Serraillier
• Slide the Corner, by Fleur Beale. High interest car rallying, NZ novel for reluctant boy readers, an author on the move, relevant to the Waikato. Especially good for lower/middle ability forms.
• State Ward, by Alan Duff NZ author. Less able students have it read to them, respond enthusiastically
• Stonelight, by Gaelyn Gordon
• Sweetgrass, by Joy Cowley. Form 3/4 bilingual class
• Take It Easy, by David Hill. NZ Adventure story, teenage/parent relationships.
• Taming the Star Runner, by S E Hinton
• Tex, by S E Hinton
• That Was Then, This Is Now, by S L Hinton. Pupils identified with the situation, style of writing went down well
• To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee (year 11)
• Tomorrow When the War Began, by John Marsden This book and its sequel have been successful in getting non-readers keenly interested, good setting , shows story line, vocab work, useful for mixed ability. Challenging, kids keen. Action packed, also works well with less able readers. Readable, realistic to Australasia. Gripping story for better readers.
• Tillerman Trilogy, by Cynthia Voigt
• Under the Mountain, by Maurice Gee A little dated but students love to read about their own setting Great adventure, language level appropriate at form 3. Enjoy 'local colour' kids winning and disputes over who is to blame.
• Waiting for Anya, by Michael Morpurgo. Ties in with a thematic study of war.
• Water in the Blood, by Alan Bunn. Form 4 text NZ novel
• The Wednesday Wizard, by Sherryl Jordan
• Jellybean, by Tessa Duder. Students readily relate to this one, well written, sympathetic, up-to-date
• The Whale Rider, by Witi Ihimaera. Very popular with fourth-form Maori students, form 5 bilingual class or mainstream form 5
• The Whole of the Moon, by Duncan Stuart. NZ, particularly Auckland related, strong characters, strong social situation. Excellent support from Author Website and personal visit (Auckland area) form 4 or form 5 class of reluctant readers
• Winter of Fire, by Sherryl Jordan. Excellent for form 4/5, despite a female main character boys still enjoy it. Individuals of upper stream only
• Young Exile, by Eliane Whitehouse
• Z for Zachariah, by Robert O'Brien

Non-fiction (Junior)

• Alive, by Piers Paul Reed An abridged version is also available
• Angela's Ashes, by Frank McCourt (form 5)
• Borany's Story by Borany Kanai and Adrienne Jansen. Good in multicultural city school, opens new worlds.
• Born Too Soon Application Series. Good discussion of issues, pictures, text, easy read.

Boy, by Roald Dahl Loved by all levels of students. Students enjoy the biography of this popular author, narrative style is of interest, humourous, has research potential, students can identify with authoritative prior knowledge. The autobiography that's not an autobiography

• The Diary of Anne Frank, works well, an oldie but a goodie.

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly Clear prose, manageable length, moving story.

• Escape form Bosnia Aza's story as told to Sue Mc Cauley. Used in a thematic study of war, a real love story of how a NZ pilot smuggled out his future wife, well written /retold.
• For Better, For Worse, by Barbara Mabbett. Adapted from 'Amiria' (form 5). The simplified version is very good to use with less able readers.
• Greek News, by Anton Powell. Ancient history in newspaper format also news writing
• Going Solo, by Roald Dahl Especially with boys.
• Hiroshima, by John Hersey There is still widespread interest among students. Dated but useful for form 5
• Is That It?, by Bob Geldorf. Form 5 but now dated rather much.
• Longman's series on 'Famous Lives' Includes stories on Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Mother Theresa
• My Place, by Sally Morgan. Issues book, closer to home yet gives us the distance.
• My Year, by Roald Dahl. Great for enthusing the unenthusiastic.
• Night, by Elie Wiesel.
• The Non-Fiction File, by Judine Ladbrook.
• Not Without My Daughter Betty Mahmoody. Semi novel, semi non-fiction.
• Pack and Rifle, by Philip Holden Adapted version, form 5.
• Personal Best (ed. Duder) - sports related stories
• Real People, Real Places - New Windmill collection of non-fiction.
• Roman News Ancient history in newspaper format, also news writing
• Tooth and Nail, by Mary Findlay. Growing up in NZ, female narrator. Quite long but often 'hooks' slower students, plenty in it for study. An eye-opener but they like to know about the 'bad old days'
• Xtra-Ordinary Lives/ Stories series - Omnibus Books (Scholastic) - new series of high interest , non-fiction for junior secondary school
• Zlata's Diary, by Zlata Filipovic

Films (Junior)

• Alex Based on the novel by Tessa Duder
• At the Whistlestop Cafe Form 4 bilingual class
• Benny and Joan Lee Tamehori dir.
• Braveheart Mel Gibson dir. For a top form 4 group or form 5
• Breaker Morant

Breaking Away Peter Yates (form 4)

• China Syndrome Nuclear
• James Bridges dir. Nuclear issues for y 11 and 12
• Dances with Wolves Kevin Costner dir.
• Edward Scissorhands Tim Burton. Lots of issues raised without sex or violence. Throughly enjoyable and sad. Conformist society rejects the creative, sensitive soul, Year 10 girls loved it
• End of the Golden Weather, by Ian Mune (year 11)

Field of Dreams Phil Alden-Robinson dir.

• Fly Away Home Carroll Ballard dir
• Footroot Flats For forms 3 and 4. Usually latch onto whatever is relevant to them at the time
• Forrest Gump, directed by Robert Zemeckis, Based on the novel by Winston Groom. Useful for teaching of narrative genre, film and literature. Appealing characterisations and convincing performances. Interesting music and era, characterisations, film technique very modern, theme reinforced by symbolism, passing of time used in interesting way
• Fried Green Tomatoes John Arnet dir. Form 4 bilingual class
• The Fugitive, Harrison Ford dir. Exciting chase footage, many techniques for teaching
• Gold diggers by Kevin James Dobson?
• The Hobbit Jules Bass and Arthur Rankin Jr dir. (Form 3)
• Hope and Glory John Beerman (Form 4)
• In the Name of the Father Jim Sheridan. (Form 5) A recent release.
• Jack Frances Coppola dir
• Kingpin Mike Walker cir. Very popular with less able boys. Has a distinct NZ flavour.
• Koro's Hat and other short films produced by the group that filmed this for television. Form 3/4 bilingual class
• Labyrinth Jim Henson 1987. Form 4.
• Last of the Mohicans Michael Mann dir.
• Lion King Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff dir.Thematically strong, clear symbolism, good contrasts, clear storyline, use of special effects.
• The Long Walk Home Richard Pearce dir. Excellent characterisation, strong symbolism to reinforce 'black and white'. Adult narrator remembering childhood (compare with
• To Kill a Mockingbird)
• Little Women Gillian Armstrong dir.
• The Man from Snowy River George Miller dir. Based on the poem by 'Banjo' Paterson. Whole class enjoyed this, a good old-fashioned romance. Good action movie for juniors with possibility of links to the poem.
• Mask (with 'Cher') Chuck Russell dir. (Form 4)
• Matilda Danny de Vito dir. Characterisation clever, familiar storyline, clear themes, clever use of camera.
• Much Ado About Nothing, Kenneth Branagh dir. Can be used at any level but is an excellent introduction to Shakespeare for juniors and can be used as a film study rather than as 'Shakespeare'
• Ngati Barry Barclay dir. Low budget film, interesting concepts and filming, spiritual

Once Were Warriors Lee Tamahori dir.

• The Outsiders, (
• Coppola) based on the novel by S.E. Hinton. Has excellent imagery. Links to book study, excellent to show film technique, The 'brat pack' still popular with most teenagers.
• The Power of One, John G Avildsen dir. Based on the novel by Bryce Courtenay. All kids relate to bullying, injustice, etc. Evokes a strong response. Effective theme study. Form 5 enjoy it
• Pride and Prejudice Simon Langton dir.
• A good introduction to older literature without the difficulty of trying to read the novel
• Ruby and Rata Form 5. Good for character studies and film technique
• Roimata and other short films produced by the group that filmed 'Koro's Hat' for television. Good for form 3/4 bilingual class
• Sandlot Kids - Form 3 film - strong theme/ characters
• Secret of Bear Mountain by Kevin James Dobson dir. Enjoyed by girls in particular.
• Shakespeare's works - any updated versions - Much Ado About Nothing, Twelfth Night, Richard III, Romeo and Juliet - excellent with juniors and seniors
• Snail's Pace (from Shorts 1, Learning Media)
• Stand By Me, (Reiner) Good 'rites of passage' stuff. Students love the humour - boys. Good values and good film techniques
• To Sir With Love James Clavell dir.Film and book
• Toy Story John Lasseter dir. Clear structure, enjoyable'view', animation, familiarity, obvious themes
• The Wave Alexander Grasshoff dir. Based on the book by Marton Rhue.
• What's Eating Gilbert Grape? Modern, humourous, covers family, teenage issues, students relate despite a very different setting. Very popular, great for filming techniques, character/theme/setting. A lot of information. Good for exam answers.
• White Fang Randal Kleiser dir. Based on the novel by Jack London
• The Whole of the Moon Duncan Stuart dir. Explores issues of interest to students - teenage cancer sufferers. NZ, particularly Auckland related, strong characters and strong social situation
• Witness Peter Weir dir.
• Good for
• form 5